Week of July 26 - 30, 2010

Info

Dangers of heat evident at hospitalshttp://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story_news_durham/8868708/article-Dangers-of-heat-evident-at-hospitals?instance=main_articleThe Herald-Sun (Durham)The blistering heat that's been blanketing the area is taking its toll. And there's no real let-up in sight. The state Division of Public Health reported Friday that nearly 500 people across the state had been treated for heat-related illnesses over the last six weeks. Locally, UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill and Duke Hospital have seen a steady stream of patients suffering from the scorching heat wave. One patient who arrived at the UNC emergency room on Thursday suffering from heat stroke, remained in critical condition on Friday, said Thomas Hughes, a spokesman for the hospital. "So far that is the only confirmed case of heat stroke we've had, although we've had other heat-related illnesses."

What is ozone?http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/07/26/597573/what-is-ozone.html#storylink=misearchThe News & Observer (Raleigh)Dr. David Peden is director of the Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma and Lung Biology at the UNC School of Medicine and deputy director of Child Health Research at the N.C. Translational and Clinical Sciences Institute. He explains the basics of ozone and what his research shows about the effects of ozone pollution on health.

Surgeon removes rod from toddler's brainhttp://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/07/26/Surgeon-removes-rod-from-toddlers-brain/UPI-84801280190228/United Press International Doctors say a North Carolina toddler is a "little miracle" after surviving an unprecedented operation to remove a metal rod accidentally lodged in his brain. A neurosurgeon at University of North Carolina Hospital, Chapel Hill, removed an L-shaped part from a pressure washer embedded in 17-month-old Jessiah Jackson's head, The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer reported Monday.

A fix for sun damage?http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/07/27/a-fix-for-sun-damage.html?sid=101The Columbus Dispatch (Ohio)Insects have it. Rattlesnakes have it. Even marsupials such as opossums have it. But most of us mammals can't make an enzyme called photolyase, which repairs sun damage...."It really solves a very important scientific problem, and that is how electron transfer is used to repair DNA," said Dr. Aziz Sancar, a professor of biochemistry and biophysics at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill School of Medicine, who collaborated with Zhong on the research.

Wilmington toddler rebounds after metal rod removed from brainhttp://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20100727/ARTICLES/100729710The Star News (Wilmington)In a room at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill, Jessiah Jackson was running around, babbling, giggling and doing everything else typical of a 17-month-old boy. There was no sign that, only a day before, he had a metal rod lodged 2 inches into his brain. In a case being touted by family members and hospital workers as a "little miracle," Jessiah is alive, alert and without any apparent brain damage after a neurosurgeon at UNC Hospitals removed an L-shaped part from a pressure washer that was embedded in the back of the boy's head.

'Miracle Baby:' Doctors Save Toddler Impaled in the Brain by Hookhttp://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/miracle-boy-survives-hook-brain/story?id=11257613Good Morning AmericaThe active 17-month-old baby squirming on his grandmother's lap outwardly shows no sign of the horrific brain injury that stunned the doctors charged with saving his life..."In this particular case so many things had to be done properly," said Dr. Anand Germanwala, chief of skull-based neurosurgery at North Carolina Children's Hospital, where Jessiah was treated. "And they were."

NC toddler survives potentially devastating injuryhttp://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7576026ABC 11Jessiah Jackson is a typical bright eyed and alert toddler...It was one of the worst impalements his surgeon had ever seen and UNC Neurosurgeon Dr. Anand Germanwala credits the medical care Jessiah received before he arrived at UNC Hospitals.

'Miracle baby' survives metal rod in headhttp://www.wral.com/news/local/story/8035921/WRALA UNC Hospitals surgeon is calling a 17-month-old boy a “miracle baby” after he survived the removal of a metal rod lodged in his head inches from his brain.

"Miracle Baby" Survives Rod Through the Headhttp://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/07/27/earlyshow/main6717376.shtmlCBS NewsDr. Anand Germanwala, who treated Jessiah at The University of North Carolina Hospital, told CBS News, "This could not have been in a worse location." He continued, "If there was any injury to that, that could have resulted in instant death. That could have resulted in a massive stroke. That could have resulted in a terrible outcome." Doctors told Grandfather Joseph Jones that little Jessiah's chances were grim by the time he got to the care of neurosurgeons at The University of North Carolina Hospital.

Toddler Survives After Metal Rod Removed from Skullhttp://www.myfox8.com/news/wghp-story-metal-rod-skull-100726,0,6392681.storyFox 8A North Carolina family is thankful for their 17-month-old son's life after a gruesome household injury. "It didn't do damage on the way in, and I had to make sure I didn't damage it on the way out. If that was the case, then this patient could have suffered instant death or a massive stroke," said Anand V. Germanwala, M.D. of UNC Hospitals.

Free physicals offered at UNChttp://www.chapelhillnews.com/2010/07/28/58495/free-physicals-offered-at-unc.htmlThe Chapel Hill NewsUNC Hospitals will offer free physical exams for all students wanting to play fall sports - regardless of school - 5-7:30 p.m. this evening at the Ambulatory Care Center. ...Such physicals are screening examinations only for participation in sports. They are not considered a substitute for a comprehensive examination with a child's regular physician, where important preventive health information can be covered.